“That is why the threat to the SC was totally irresponsible. The President should not forget that he does not have any power over the High Tribunal, and that it is the final arbiter or interpreter of
anything about the law He himself described the SC as a co-equal branch of the Executive,” Romualdez pointed out after President Aquino hit the SC for outlawing key provisions of Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

“Just let the law take its course, Mr. President. Please stop dividing the people with the DAP,” Romualdez stressed.

Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. and Cavite Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. said President Aquino is just doing his job to propel the economy using DAP scheme.

Romualdez said whoever advised President Aquino to threaten the SC with a possible clash for ruling the DAP as unconstitutional should be fired.

“Too bad, the President’s address was only about his insistence on the legality of DAP due to the good faith and good intention behind it, blaming the Arroyo administration again and threat the SC. He tried to justify the legality of DAP with a provision in the Administrative Code, But even non-lawyers are aware that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” said Romualdez.

He said the issues are simple, explaining “the Constitution had been violated with the DAP so somebody must be held accountable. Good faith
or good intention does not exempt anyone from penalties for violating the law.”

“Justice is what the people want for the DAP. They deserve nothing less. Let’s give it to them, then move on. The country has scores of problems for the government to address,” Romualdez added.(RPP)